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June 8, 2011 By Brian Heaton
As mobile devices continue to gain in popularity, California has taken a step to limit their use by state employees. Gov. Jerry Brown announced on Wednesday, June 8, that 29,398 cell phones have been eliminated from state use — a 44 percent reduction in state agencies and departments.
This is just the first round of cuts. Brown’s target goal is to remove a total of 33,559 cell phones from state service, which would equal a 50 percent reduction statewide. The cutbacks are expected to save approximately $13 million.
Evan Westrup, a spokesman for the governor’s office, said that Brown’s own office has achieved a 75 percent cutback of its cell phones to set an example for the rest of the state.
“In a time like this with these fiscal circumstances, it is critical that people are making cuts where they can,” Westrup said. “The answer is pretty simple: If the governor can do it, state employees can do it as well.”
Devices eliminated include cell phones, smartphones and air cards, but do not include tablets, according to Westrup.
An executive order issued in January originally identified 96,000 devices that were in service throughout the state. That figure was later revised to 67,117 after further investigation concluded that thousands of phones were actually other types of telecommunications devices not under the governor’s authority, or simply had been deactivated already.
Various state departments in California have applied for 4,916 exemptions that would spare their cell phones from the cost-cutting move, according to figures issued by Brown’s office. While Brown said exemptions would be made for mission-critical use and public safety, the governor remained committed to the reduction.
“We will deny exemption request — or force deeper cuts to other agencies and departments — to ensure the 50 percent reduction is realized within 30 days,” Brown said in a press release.
State employees who are denied access to a state-issued cell phone shouldn’t get in the habit of using their personal device with the hope they’ll be reimbursed for work-related costs, according to Westrup. The spokesman maintained that departments and agencies should instead take a hard look at who really needs a mobile phone to do their jobs.
“I think this is an elimination that is geared toward saving money,” Westrup said. “If you are eliminating cell phones and then people using their personal cell phones are billing the state, you’re not going to achieve a cost savings — and it frankly defeats the order.”
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96,000 devices is a lot for a phone company to lose. You would think that they would be willing to cut a deal, instead of losing the customer base.
I am a state employee and I use my personal cell phone for state business. It does not cost the state anything, and it adds nothing to my monthly cell phone bill.
Closer to 35,000 - but yes, I agree that in the face of these cuts, the telcos should be inclined to cut a better deal.
I'm a state employee and I only use a land line for doing business. It works for me just fine. Our state issued cell phone use is very limited to management and field staff. I don't know of anyone using their personal phone for state business.
"cutting a deal" is not the point - eliminating the cost entirely IS the point. Most state employees do not use their phones primarily for business, and those that really require them will get to keep them. The same thing is happening in the private sector among smart companies - nice to see the state getting a clue for a change.
Here in a local government in southern california, we too have eliminated the cell phone perquisite. So many folks don't really NEED them as they sit at their desks for most of the day anyway. I'm glad as a tax payer that the cuts are going forward. My bigest complaint is for us who really need the connectivity I now have to pay my own bill and basically am getting a $30/ month pay cut. I'm on complaining too much as we all need to tighten our belts at this time.
Brown missed the bigger savings..... The point is that employees only need 1 phone.... a land line or cell phone, they both cost about the same per month. Cell phones with email capabilities are a much more efficient use of resources, if the individual spends a lot of time away from their desk. You could proabaly save more than 13 million by eliminating Land Lines.... Welcome to 2011 Jerry.
Interesting idea to do state business using a personal phone but legally this is not looked upon favorably. How is the state supposed to audit your business practices while using a personal phone? No business could be done "officially" while using a personal phone unless the state extends its liability risk.
I think the smart phones should be eliminated because these are the costlier cell-phones; But regular flip phone are a better cost saving and each employee that needs a direct line will be able to use their cell-phone as one, and eliminate the land-line. Cell phones are the future and are portable and can follow the employee, this is a great convenience.
I applaud the Governor's willingness to cut costs. Too often, elected officials choose to avoid making waves rather than making the hard choices that need to be made. California is in a dire financial crisis, and something has to be done to reduce expenditures.
The solution is so easy, Governor. Use prepaid cheapo flip phones. When the user runs out of minutes, he has to ask the bean counters for more. That will give the state employee a voice link, cut down on personal use, and force an accounting of costs.
it is the most irresponsible and rediculous politically motivated decision from Brown administration. I'm a state worker who works in field construction. Cellphone is crucial part of our daily business. We do not sit at desk all day long and it is very difficult for peer and contractor to contact us. Yes, everyone has their personal cellphone these days but I paid for family use not for business use. Save a penny, lose a million. Idiots.
You're missing the point. He's not trying to eliminate all cell phones, only the ones that aren't truly needed. Yours is obviously needed. Where is the idiocy?
In some states, disclosure laws make it a bad idea to conduct government business on personal devices. Those devices can be subpoenad for disclosure. Many people do not want to share the contents of their personal devices. Additionally, unless the connections are properly secured, it might be unwise to hop on to wireless. Just thoughts...
It appears that we lost the real subject matter. If you need the equipment and service, you should have it. The problem is that management, should manage and ID needs. to just cut or add because you have the money is not the real problem!!!!!!!!!
Usually at the management level where phones may be apportioned not on need but on politics, favoritism and incompetency. I happily gave up my rim. Don't contact me except during my office hours? Works for me.
No, they don't cost about the same per month. Cell phones, without text or data, run anywhere from $22 - $25 per month on State plans from Verizon or AT&T. Land Lines cost anywhere from $9 - $13 usage or, if using VoIP, as little as $10 per month. I work for a county government and am in charge of IT & Teleco - these are real charges. We did a study where we looked to replace all phones with cell or VoIP...we chose VoIP for the desk. Something happening in our county is we're taking away cell phones, but expecting people to use their personal cell. My entire department was denied cell phones, which is ludicrous when you expect a tech to answer his personal phone on the weekend. In a political world, it is impossible to "look at who really needs a cell phone". Too many people to please gets in the way of making real changes.
When on call we all used to be expected to "pick up the phone" when contacted with no reimbursement. We were all required to be available and able to be contacted. Cell phone did not change the requirement. A professional needs to provide the tools to perform. Mechanic comes with tools, manager should come with phone.